Bangkok, 5 September 2019: A delegation of energy economists from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), led by ERIA President Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, was invited to present their energy policy research activities and policy recommendations to the plenary session of the 13th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting (13th EAS EMM) that was held on 5 September 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Sontirat Sontijirawong, Minister of Energy of Thailand. It was attended by the Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for energy from the EAS participating countries, namely the ASEAN Member States, Australia, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), New Zealand, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America.

At this special occasion, Prof Nishimura highlighted salient ASEAN energy, climate challenges, and policy actions that emphasised the pragmatic approach by keeping all the options open. ERIA’s energy policy research outcomes underlined the regional collaboration on emergency response, cross-country energy interconnections and regulatory harmonization. Amongst the chief contemporary energy development, ERIA conducted various research to answer the most relevant energy challenges especially on the role of fossil fuel, hydrogen, electric vehicles in ASEAN, power connectivity, clean uses of coal, biomass, and penetration of renewable energy in the ASEAN and EAS region. Further, ERIA is also conducting energy policy researches responding to specific needs of member states including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and Thailand.

Prof Nishimura also conveyed the meeting the outcome of the 2nd East Asia Energy Forum (EAEF 2) on Energy Connectivity in ASEAN with the presence of energy ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and with a key message presented on behalf of H.E. Sontirat Sontijirawong, Minister of Energy of Thailand. The forum had very fruitful discussion on the renewable energy development strategy, the role of liquefied natural gas, and power connectivity in Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). The forum generated key policy messages as summarised in the ‘Reflections from EAEF 2, Bangkok’, which emphasised a balanced discussion on energy-related financing issues, recognising ASEAN energy reality and does not rule out the important role of coal in energy transition.

H.E. Yoshihiko Isozaki, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, expressed his appreciation for ERIA’s energy policy research projects, which provide policy recommendations for policymakers in the ASEAN and EAS region. He passionately stressed the need for ERIA to continue such contemporary energy policy research with high policy relevance in order to help countries to prepare for appropriate policy measures to deal with the current and future energy challenges of the ASEAN and EAS region.

Prof Nishimura also delivered a short message on video related to the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of Japan-ASEAN cooperation in which he mentioned ERIA’s contributions related to Japan-ASEAN cooperation.

ERIA delegation also attended a bilateral meeting with the Ministry of Electricity and Energy of Myanmar, headed by His Excellency U Win Khaing, Union Minister for Electricity and Energy (MOEE). Both parties reaffirmed the continued cooperation between ERIA and MOEE.